Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi has credited former Chelsea and England legend Frank Lampard for turning around his career at Everton when he was struggling for form and confidence.
Speaking on The Inside Scoop podcast, Iwobi opened up about a tough period following a red card at the Africa Cup of Nations and a looming loan spell under then-manager Rafa Benitez. “I was having a mare. Benitez was gone, and Lampard came in. He told me I’d be going on loan abroad. I said, ‘I’m not doing that. I’d rather stay here and fight for my place,’” Iwobi recalled.
Lampard saw something in him that previous coaches had missed. “He told me, ‘You do it in training, why not in matches?’ I told him I’d been told before to just set the ball and run,” Iwobi said. Lampard, however, encouraged him to rediscover his natural game, shifted him into midfield, and gave him the green light to play freely.
“He said, ‘Express yourself, be you,’ and that’s where I revitalised my career. I’d say under Lampard was my best time,” the Nigerian midfielder affirmed.
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Editorial
What Alex Iwobi reveals here isn’t just a story of redemption it’s a masterclass in coaching and confidence. When players falter, it’s easy to point fingers or ship them off. What’s harder and infinitely more impactful is what Frank Lampard did: restore belief.
In a football culture often obsessed with output, Lampard took a different route. He acknowledged Iwobi’s talent in training and asked the key question Why not in games? That moment of trust, that nudge to “be you,” was all Iwobi needed to flip the narrative.
This is exactly what many players lack a manager who sees beyond a stat sheet and past performances. Lampard didn’t just change Iwobi’s position he changed his perspective. And in doing so, Everton reaped the rewards of a more confident, expressive midfielder.
We believe Iwobi’s experience is a reminder to coaches and fans alike that footballers are people before they are performers. Sometimes, what they need most isn’t a tactic board it’s a vote of confidence.
Did You Know?
- Alex Iwobi is the nephew of Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha.
- He made over 100 appearances for Arsenal before transferring to Everton in 2019 for £34 million.
- Iwobi played in every outfield position for Everton during the 2021–22 season.
- Under Lampard, he was converted into a central midfielder a role he had rarely played in professionally before.
- Iwobi was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
